On the brighter side, we have avoided the damaging storms that have been hitting all around us so far, so we are thankful for that.
I am continuing to plant according to my schedule, but indoors instead of outdoors. Learned my lesson last year. The weather has to be right. First batch of corn is beginning to sprout indoors.
Hope everyone is doing well, staying safe from the storms, and having good luck with your gardens. Have a great weekend. God Bless.
Pinging the List.
Found a tropical plant store in St Pete that had three of the plants I’ve been looking for, Bay Laurel (Bay Leaves), Kaffir Lime (leaves used in Thai recipes) and Tea.
My youngest daughter is Queen of the Garden, and radishes are her special favorite. She's very proud of them.
Well, I have been away for a while, but lurking on this thread each week for some time. Thought y’all would be interested to hear my gardening tale of late.
Moved to WI a couple summers ago and this is the first year that I have really gotten serious about growing some food. Rented some land from a relative and have a plot of it worked up. on half of it is currently the skeleton of a 14x32 greenhouse. In that, I plan to put about 80 tomatoes that I have been raising from seed since the second weekend in March. Never built a greenhouse before and never started maters from seed before. Add to that never tried to harden off tomatoes I started from seed until today. WE also are heading to Canada to visit the inlaws for 2 weeks next weekend. I am very hopeful that I will have the greenhouse finished before then, and the tomatoes in the ground inside it before we leave. Will also need to set up an irrigation system. Nothing like waiting til the last minute, eh?
We moved here because we could find work here and as such, I have been working full time and also quite a bit of overtime at a nearby factory. 3rd shift. It makes most other activities difficult when you do that. c’est la vie, I guess...
Gorgeous weather here! It’s been COLD at night, and I’ve been glad that some of my seedlings have not been in flats, because I’ve brought them in at night!
Planted my PARSLEY! Many of you know I had a bad time with it last year. This year it was fine. That particular little root does not like my usual technique of using a sprouting tray with subsequent transfer to a soil cup. It wants its toes in the dirt from the get-go! It is too delicate to stand any handling.
I planted the CHAMOMILE sprouts and the ECHINACEA sprouts, and then we had that cold snap. I’m only seeing one little Echinacea survivor.
Also planted my STRAWBERRY SPINACH AND CILANTRO! I have one lone WHITE BUSH SQUASH that sprouted, but my T SQUASH has been going great guns. I’ve even shared some of them with my gardener friends. I figure if mine doesn’t work out, maybe they might share back! LOL!
My NEW ZEALAND SPINACH did not sprout. One of my garden friends says I should lightly use and emery board on it and then soak overnight, and then put into the dirt cup. Have not had a chance to try that, but when I catch my breath [is that even possible?] I’ll do that. If I don’t mention it soon, please someone remind me! LOLOL!
The EMMER got too dry several days ago and wilted a bit, but it seems to have survived. Some of the stalks withered, but it really needed to be thinned anyway.
The DAIKON RADISHES need to be planted, but are still hanging out. The tomatoes we bought from Lowes all have some baby tomatoes and more blooms! The ATKINSON TOMATOES I sprouted are growing well. They are ready for dirt.
The one WALKING ONION I planted is doing well. I fear my other start bulbs may be too dry. I plan to plant them anyway to see if there is anyone home in there!
I do have other ONIONS and GARLIC to plant. One of my gardener friends has made noises about giving me some of what she calls her “winter ONIONS”. The SWEET POTATOES are ready for dirt.
I did plant the WHITE grocery store POTATO starts. Hmmmm right after I did, we had that near freeze, and I don’t know if they survived, but I’ll keep watering and hoping. They are in my SUNFLOWER AND OKRA bed. I had so much fun with those last year, I decided to do more. I have my CLEMSON SPINELESS and ORANGE JING OKRA in abundance. I only have one EAGLE PASS OKRA plant. I gave an orange jing to one of my gardener friends with a couple of sunflower
sprouts.
I planted my SUGAR SNAP PEAS, and my BUSH BEANS, BLACK BEANS, and ASIAN TRELLIS BEANS (those looooong beans) and CRANBERRY BEANS AND my lone PINTO BEAN sprout are all ready for dirt. I want to try sprouting GREAT WHITE NORTHERNERS again, and some more PINTOS.
My little RED AMARANTH plants are growing well, and probably should be thinned or separated.... and put into dirt!
I know there are others I should be reporting on, but Darlin is wanting me release the computer! As I work with my little “green babies” I’ll keep everyone here posted on what is happening with them!
Blessings to all this gorgeous early May!
We have been having some terrific weather here in the lower PNW so there was no excuse to stay indoors. Had to weed whack 6 beds of Common Vetch and make compost then some spading and planted 48 hills of Yukon Gold. I’ll be transplanting the corn that I start in the greenhouse to get a head start. Doing the variety “Revelation” as it is a short season corn and very tasty to our palette plus it grows well here on the coast. The new strawberries are healthy but seem to be late maturing with just a few blossoms showing.
Mrs. Augie and I found another 75 morels Friday evening and decided that we probably had enough, so I’ve hung up my shroom sack for now.
Went to the nursery Saturday and bought my tomato, pepper, and eggplant sets. Finished re-potting the last of them yesterday evening. Even thought the weather is nice right now I’m going to wait until after Mother’s Day to put them in the ground. Better safe than sorry.
Spent a good bit of yesterday helping Mrs. Augie plant her new flowerbed next to the deck. I did sneak in a few potherbs so the effort wasn’t entirely wasted on ornamentals.
Snap peas, radishes, beets, carrots, kale and mixed salad greens have all germinated in the garden and are looking good. The brassicas that I set out a couple weeks back are also doing well.
I have four varieties of basil started in pots in the patio. In the past I’ve always just left in the pot rather than transplanting, but I think I’m going to put it in the ground this time and see how it does there.
I’ve gotten three cuttings of asparagus so far and it should be ready to cut again by the time I get home from work today.
I hope to get my green beans and sweet corn planted this week.
~~~~~~~ boo ~~~~~~~~
Ok, guys, I just had a ghost dog come in from the garden with me. I had gone out to hoe the weeds and finally get the melon seeds in the ground. But no, there were too many yellow pear tomato volunteers popping up and anyway that’s where I had promised the next door neighbor there’d be tomatoes and he could pick whatever was on his side. I weeded some to space the tomatoes better and it’s so hot they were wilting within the 15 seconds of getting them up and into new holes. Well, I came in all sweaty so sat down to drink a glass of water only to hear, “slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp.... slurp, slurp” at the dogs’ water bowl. Only thing is, the dogs were outside. Hubby says he’s good with it because it is probably our old dog who is buried in the garden. That’s what I think, too. She was a sweetheart and my best friend ever - two or four legged.